ATP: “One like Federer”: Double legend Daniel Nestor says good-bye

One of the best doubles players of all time delivered his last game this weekend.

“I wouldn’t be here without my family,” said Nestor after his lost Davis Cup double on Saturday with tears in his eyes. “Everyone on the tour has their team – my team is my family, and everyone was incredible,” said the 46-year-old, referring to his wife and two daughters.

With one restriction: “Maybe one and a half years ago you could have stuck me to stop. Milos Raonic told me five times this week alone”, Nestor reflected half in fun, half in seriousness – because especially the 2018 season was not really worthy for a man like him, with only 6 victories and 21 defeats.

This will not diminish his success story: After 25 years in the Canadian Davis Cup team, one of the most successful tennis players ends his career with eight Grand Slam tournament victories in doubles (Australian Open 2002, French Open 2007, 2010 – 2012, Wimbledon 2008, 2009, US Open 2004), four in mixed (Australian Open 2007, 2011, 2014, Wimbledon 2013) and 91 overall double tournament victories.

Along with Bob and Mike Bryan, Nestor is the only double player to win every Grand Slam tournament and every Masters event at least once, as well as the ATP finals and the gold medal at the Olympic Games (in 2000 he won with Sébastien Lareau in Sydney). For 108 weeks he was number one in the double ranking.

Nestor was particularly successful alongside Mark Knowles, then with Nenad Zimonjic and Max Mirnyi; in mixed he won two of his four major titles with Kristina Mladenovic. Nestor was the first double player to celebrate 1,000 match victories and played on the tour for almost 30 years.

“You have to be reasonable and see when the time is up – and I feel that now,” Nestor told the ATP a few weeks ago. “You can’t do some things the way you used to,” the leftie continued. “Doesn’t mean I can’t play at the highest level anymore. But I’m not sure if it’s gonna go on for another six or seven matches.”

One reason for Nestor’s long time on the tour was Mike Bryan. “He’s like Roger Federer. He plays so simply and relaxed, it doesn’t affect the body that much – hence the longevity. We all look up to him and are curious to see if we can play a little longer.”